CDS half marathon 2023: Fire Service personnel emerges winner
By Sumaila Ogbaje
A personal of the Federal Fire Service (FFS), Stephen Joshua, on Saturday, emerged winner (Male Category) of the 4th Edition of the Chief of Defence Staff Armed Forces and Security Agencies Half Marathon Championship held in Abuja.
Joshua finished at 1:08:00 (one hour and eight minutes) to emerge winner while Pte. Gyang Irimiya of the Nigerian Army finished at 1:09:56 (one hour, nine minutes and 56 seconds to emerge second in the same male category.
Auta Jigak of the Federal Fire Service finished at 1:10:15 (one hour, 10 minutes and 15 seconds) to emerge third.
In the female category, Deborah Pam of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corp (NSCDC), finished at 1:22:37 (one hour, 22 minutes and 37 seconds) to emerged first.
Blessing Bulus, also of the NSCDC finished at 1:23:50 (one hour, 23 minute and 50 to emerge second.
Pte. Patience John of the Nigerian Army, finished at 1:23:56 (one hour, 23 minutes and 56 seconds) to emerge third.
In the group competition, the Nigerian Army emerged winners in both male and female category; while the Nigeria Police emerged second and the Nigerian Air Force emerged third.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the championship featured two events, 21.1km male and female and 5 kilometer for veteran’s road races comprising individual and group competitions.
About 250 athletes (male and female) and about 70 veterans (male and female) from the Armed Forces of Nigeria and other security agencies, participated in the tournament.
NAN also reports that the top male and female marathoners went home with the coveted Innoson Car Prizes.
The second and third runners up got cash prizes of N750,000 and N1 million respectively while certificates of participation were given to the group and individual competitors.
The top male marathoner, Stephen Joshua of FFS, said he was happy to have won the marathon and appreciate God for giving him the strength.
Joshua said the secret behind his performance was hard work and training.
“When you work hard, you train very hard, you win the marathon.
“Nigeria should expect the best from me. I will put in my best to see that I give my service the best in every race and every marathon that I go.
My dream is to go to the world to conquer and to win medals for Nigeria,” he said.
The female top marathoner, Deborah Pam of NSCDC, said she is winning for the second time and thanked God for making it possible for her to maintain the position.
Pam thanked her husband for helping her to maintain her winning streak, adding that her winning strategy was designed by her husband.
She said training, discipline and respects for coach and the programme designed for her were the the secrets that propelled her to victory. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
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